How to disable Windows 10/11 updates and is it necessary to do so?

Disabling updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems can be useful in certain cases, but be aware of the possible risks in the form of security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues. Instead of disabling updates completely, it is recommended to use settings for deferred or temporarily paused updates. Below are detailed instructions for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Disabling updates in Windows 10:

Method 1: Using Windows Update:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run window.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Find the Windows Update service in the list.
4. Right click on this service and select "Properties".
5. Under Startup Type, select Disabled from the drop-down list.
6. Click OK and close the Services window.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update.
3. Find the "Set up automatic updates" option and double-click on it.
4. Select "Disabled" and save your changes.

Method 3: Using Registry Editor:

1. Open Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.
3. If there is no key in the "AU" section, create it: RMB on "WindowsUpdate" -> "New -> Key" and name it "AU".
4. Inside "AU" create a new DWORD value (32 bits) and name it "NoAutoUpdate".
5. Set "NoAutoUpdate" to "1" (disabled).

Disabling updates in Windows 11:

Method 1: Using Windows Update:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run window.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Find the Windows Update service in the list.
4. Right click on this service and select "Properties".
5. Under Startup Type, select Disabled from the drop-down list.
6. Click OK and close the Services window.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update.
3. Find the "Set up automatic updates" option and double-click on it.
4. Select "Disabled" and save your changes.

Method 3: Using Registry Editor:

• Open Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, type regedit and press Enter.
• Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.
• If there is no key in the "AU" section, create it: RMB on "WindowsUpdate" -> "New -> Key" and name it "AU".
• Inside "AU" create a new DWORD value (32 bits) and name it "NoAutoUpdate".
• Set "NoAutoUpdate" to "1" (disabled).

Important:

Disabling updates may increase system vulnerability. It is recommended to regularly check for updates and install them to ensure system security and stability.

After temporarily disabling updates, it is recommended to enable them back to keep the operating system up to date.